27/04/2025
*Analysis of Shafiur Rahman's Propaganda and Disinformation Against Bangladesh*
Recently, a statement has been circulating which says —
"one week earlier, Myanmar-linked fixer Dil Mohammed opened a new office with the quiet blessings of DGFI/NSI. Yesterday’s 'give blood for jihad' preacher is today’s 'peace' advocate. Who wrote the script for him?"
The main purpose behind this statement is to systematically present Bangladesh and the Rohingya issue negatively in the international arena. One of the well-known names involved in this campaign is Shafiur Rahman.
*Who is Shafiur Rahman?*
Shafiur Rahman is an alleged journalist and activist, who mainly uses the Rohingya issue to try to tarnish the image of the Bangladesh government. His activities are regularly observed to include:
* Using the suffering of the Rohingya as a political tool,
* Promoting Bangladesh as a "repressive state",
* Spreading suspicion and distrust against Bangladesh's security agencies,
* Magnifying a minor incident in Bangladesh compared to human rights violations in Myanmar.
*Propaganda in the context of Dil Mohammed:*
In the above statement, the context of 'Dil Mohammed' is basically being raised, saying that a former extremist has now become an "ambassador of peace" with the blessings of Bangladesh's intelligence agencies. The purpose of such a fabricated statement is twofold:
* To prove the Bangladesh government to be immoral and unreliable in managing the Rohingya crisis to the international community.
* To mislead the Rohingya population and incite them against Bangladesh.
*Why is this propaganda?*
The reality is that the Bangladesh government has set a rare example of international human rights by sheltering the Rohingya.
No evidence of the so-called "consent" or "planning" of the intelligence agencies with the activities of Dil Mohammed or any other individual has been found so far.
The process from "Jihad" to "Peace advocate" has been presented in such a way that it seems like a planned drama, while the reality is much more complex and ideological changes of individuals or groups can occur over time — not by a state-directed "script".
*Shafiur Rahman's tactics:*
* Selective Reporting (selectively spreading news),
* Photo manipulation and dramatic storytelling,
* Spreading misinformation using limited sources,
* Pointing fingers at Bangladesh to cover up the blame of the Myanmar government.
